Saturday, April 26, 2014

JAL announces Italy charters from Haneda.

On April 25th, Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) announced that they will operate multiple charter flights between Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) and Italy's Milan/Malpensa (MXP/LIMC) and Rome/Fiumicino (FCO/LIRF) this summer, utilizing one of Haneda's nine unused daytime international slots which have been made available for charters (Haneda to have limited-time daytime international charters.) for a limited time until October 25th. All will be flown with Boeing 787-8s.

Boeing 787-8 JA830J being serviced at Haneda. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Haneda – Italy charters Summer 2014:Haneda – Milan/Malpensa charter with 788.JL8829 HND 1600 – 2100 MXP 788 *Jul/2, 4, 16, 18, 30, Aug/1, 15, 29, Sep/12.JL8820 MXP 1320 – 0800(+1) HND 788 *Jul/17, 19, 31, Aug/2, 16, 30, Sep/13, 27.Haneda – Rome/Fiumicino charter with 788.JL8821 HND 1600 – 2105 FCO 788 *Jul/9, 11, 23, 25, Aug/8, 22, Sep/5, 19.JL8822 FCO 1315 – 0800(+1) HND 788 *Jul/10, 12, 24, 26, Aug/7, 9, 23, Sep/6, 20.Flights beyond August are subject to government approval. Italy has been Japan's largest European market not served by a Japanese airline since JAL suspended flights to Milan and Rome, which were operated with 747-400s, at the end of September 2010 when the airline was restructuring. This left the market all to Alitalia (AZ/AZA), whose only Asian destination is Japan. JAL has since been operating charters every summer between the two countries with 777s, and this time, unlike usual charters, JAL will be offering tickets on their own website as well, along with package tours sold through travel agencies. Miles can also be redeemed on these flights.

JAL often operates charters to check out if demands warrant a scheduled service. As more Dreamliners are delivered, Italy is probably one of the candidate destinations JAL is willing to resume regular flights to. According
to a survey carried out by Japanese travel website AB Road, Italy was
the most popular 'want-to-visit' outbound destination for the Japanese in 2013.Source: Japan Airlines, April 25th. (in Japanese)